When shipping goods by air from Hong Kong to Chicago, you'll encounter various airlines with complex pricing structures. What exactly are the costs involved? Let's examine the process in detail using Turkish Airlines (TK) as our example.
I. Pricing Breakdown
The Turkish Airlines air freight rates apply to flights between July 8, 2025 and July 15, 2025, following the route Hong Kong—Istanbul—Chicago (HKG-IST-ORD). These rates originate in Hong Kong and include basic shipping costs. However, shippers should be aware of additional fees and conditions to avoid unexpected expenses.
1. Base Costs: The Hong Kong origin price includes basic services, plus a HKD 50 registration fee per shipment. Additional collection fees and miscellaneous charges apply if goods require pickup from other locations.
2. China-Hong Kong Fees: Arranging transportation from Hong Kong to mainland China incurs an additional HKD 1 per kilogram charge. Standard trade customs clearance requires a HKD 320 declaration fee.
3. Additional Charges: The quoted prices include fuel surcharges, war risk insurance, and transportation contingency coverage. Each shipment carries a HKD 100 handling fee, with a maximum crate weight of 100 kg. Notably, TK imposes a HKD 15 electronic waybill fee for both MAWB and HAWB documents.
II. Cargo Specifications and Requirements
Turkish Airlines enforces strict limitations on individual package weight and dimensions. Maximum permitted weight per item is 120 kg, with size restrictions of 90cm × 80cm × 80cm. Oversized items require prior consultation.
All Turkey-bound shipments require consignees to provide tax identification numbers and relevant HS codes. Certain destinations carry supplementary fees: MSQ adds CHC charges of HKD 0.55/kg, while XPE and ZAG incur fees of HKD 39 and HKD 110 respectively.
III. Special Cargo and Safety Protocols
Turkish Airlines permits shipments containing lithium metal batteries under stringent procedures. Effective immediately, each shipment undergoes a HKD 30 inspection fee. Non-compliant items may face HKD 1000 penalties and mandatory full shipment retrieval.
Battery-containing shipments require specific documentation for flight reservations: battery safety information letters, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), UN38.3 test reports, and packing lists. All documents must be complete.
IV. Key Considerations
When planning Hong Kong-Chicago air freight logistics, careful attention to these costs and conditions helps control expenses while maintaining regulatory compliance and safety. We recommend consulting dedicated airline representatives before finalizing arrangements to ensure smooth operations throughout the shipping process.
